Video/results: O'Dowd nearly perfect at MaxPreps MLK Jr. Classic

THE SCORES
At Haas Pavilion, Cal
Saint Mary's-Albany 54, Castro Valley 49 Qwixcore
El Cerrito 73, Sacred Heart Cathedral 62 Qwixcore
Newark Memorial 60, Jesuit-Carmichael 50 Qwixcore
Bishop O'Dowd 86, Capital Christian 60 Qwixcore
Long Beach Poly 44, De La Salle 42 Quixcore
Sacramento 68, Salesian-Richmond 61 Qwixcore

BERKELEY, Calif. — The much-anticipated showdown between Northern California's top two teams Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) and Capital Christian (Sacramento) was a landslide.

Evidently O'Dowd was anticipating the game more than the Cougars as it posted an 86-60 MaxPreps Martin Luther King Jr. Classic victory behind another thoroughly impressive performance by 6-10 post Ivan Rabb, considered one of the top juniors in the country.

Coming off a triple double Friday, Rabb had 31 points, nine rebounds and five blocks as the Dragons (10-4) jumped out from the start to take leads of 23-13 and 42-23 after the first two periods and from there was never threatened.

Rabb wasn't nearly a one-man gang as the guard duo of Juwan Anderson (16 points) and Paris Austin (14 points) was superb in this premier of six games at Haas Pavilion on the campus of the University of California -Berkeley. Shane Farley, who made 9 of 10 shots en route to 19 points Friday, made all three of his shot attempts Monday, had three assists, three steals and five rebounds.

O'Dowd made 34 of 58 shots (59 percent) and was 16-for-19 from the line (84 percent). It was pretty much perfect.

"Great preparation," Bishop O'Dowd coach Lou Richey said to no one in particularly while clapping in the waning moments. "Great preparation by everyone."

That's because the Dragons appeared extra motivated, as if a state-championship game. Richey, Rabb and Austin alluded to a rough summer league game with Capital Christian (15-3) that spurred the performance. And preparation.

"There was some dirty play on both sides and we just wanted to make sure that wouldn't happen again," said Richey, who was up-and-down the sideline throughout the 32-minute contest. "Our guys played hard and well. It was a great performance, but not our best."

Rabb, who had 27 points, 11 blocks and 10 rebounds in an 80-74 win over previously unbeaten Berkeley on Friday, made 13 of 17 shots and 5-of-6 free throws. He was extremely impressive late, with three straight dunks in the fourth quarter, the last a reverse slam after a strong rebound.

He concluded the night with a highly-contested 18-foot fall-away along the baseline against Michigan-bound 6-9 forward D.J. Wilson. A pair of his six dunks drew plenty of groans from the 3,000 inside Haas, but that shot really got people hooting and showed his vast skill.

"That was my favorite," Rabb said. "That's just one of my favorite shots in general and it was fun to do it here against a defender like (Wilson)."

Asked if that was his team's "A" game, Rabb said.

"Yes, but we can always do better," he said. "When we play like that we feel we can beat about anyone."

Capital Christian, which got 19 points from lighting quick guard Uchenna Iroegbu, just never got its footing. The Cougars committed 19 turnovers, made just 35 percent of its shots and made just 20 baskets.

The Cougars, who won the Gridley Tournament and placed second at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic, will need to regroup. Then again, it's not even February yet. It's possible these teams will meet again in the NorCal Open Division.

Chris Stonebraker's superb video of O'Dowd's win over Capital Christian:


 
Trend continues: Long Beach Poly (13-6) has been involved in some wringers this season. No really, the Jackrabbits have lived in utter chaos the last month. They've been involved in three buzzer-beaters (two losses) and four other games were decided by three points or less.

So, when the Jackrabbits were engaged in a tug-a-war with a young De La Salle (Concord) squad, Poly coach Shelton Diggs knew what was destined. A nail-bitter, and likely, a pleasant ending. Indeed Poly escaped with a 44-42 overtime victory.

Poly's trio of talented guards, Chris Sullivan, Ke'jhan Feagin had Kameron Murrell, once again led the way combining for 35 points. Sullivan and Keagin had 13 apiece, while Murrell, the team's leading scorer on the year, suffered through a nightmarish 0-for-11 day from the field. But he made 9 of 10 free throws, including the last three to clinch the win.

"One way or another, we're going to get it done," Poly coach Shelton Diggs said. "One way or another we're going to make it interesting. But we're growing up. We're a real team."

De La Salle (10-5), made up primarily of sophomores and juniors, got 13 points from sophomore Nikhil Peters, but made just 14 of 40 from the field (35 percent) and 12-for-19 from the foul line. The Spartans missed four key free throws in the fourth quarter when it took a five-point lead.

As usual, the Spartans played stellar defense. Stifling even, forcing Poly into 32 percent shooting (12 of 37). But Poly, likewise, was superb on defense, limiting the Spartans to only a pair of backdoor buckets in the first half.

Poly also cashed in at the line, making 18 of 22 (82 percent). De La Salle was 63 percent. Essentially, that was the difference.

"It's a big win against a big-time program," Diggs said. "We just find a way."

Another sophomore, Devin Asiasi, had a nice game with nine points and six rebounds for the Spartans, who will only get better with such a young group. Patience will be the key.

Chris Stonebraker's video from Poly's 44-42 overtime win over De La Salle:



Needing a warm-up: It took 10 minutes, 30 seconds for Newark Memorial (Newark) to score a basket. The Cougars (10-7) fell behind unbeaten Jesuit (Carmichael) (19-1) by a score of 13-7.

"Big gym," Newark Memorial coach Craig Ashmore said. "Nerves. Once one went in, I had good feeling it would work out OK."

Newark Memorial got it worked out, all right. Their bigs Matthew Thomas, a lanky 6-foot-9 senior, finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Damien Banford, a beefy 6-5 senior, added 13 points and five rebounds.

In the third quarter, after trailing 21-20, the Cougars, led by terrific point guard Joey Frenchwood (11 points, five assists, three steals), got out on the break and looked more like the Globtrotters than the over-40 rec team they looked like in the first quarter.  They ran off 10 straight points, eight on pretty fast breaks which included a couple no look passes and one through the legs.

"They had their fun," Ashmore said of his team. "Yes, we got eight points on the break, but what people don't remember is we got the other 52 pounding it inside. That's the way we want to do it."

The nonleague season was little how Ashmore wanted it for a team that figured to be a Northern California power. A couple injuries, bad decisions late in games, lack of depth all contributed to four close losses. Monday's performance was much more what Ashmore and Bay Area fans had in mind.

To beat a 19-0 team by double digits was impressive. Not that mattered to Ashmore. He didn't even know Jesuit, which got 17 points from Isaiah Bailey, 13 by Nick Hilton and 12 by Lake Lutes, was perfect on the season.

"I can't worry about them," he said. "We got our own problems."

After missing their first eight shots, the Cougars finished 23-for-48 from the field (48 percent), while Jesuit was just 17-of-41. This was Newark's seventh straight win.

"This is a good win for our confidence," Ashmore said.

Chris Stonebraker's video of Newark Memorial's win over Jesuit:



Too good: If El Cerritto (18-1) keeps up their pace and play like it did in a very impressive 73-62 win over two-time defending Division III Northern California champion Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco, Calif.)Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), it may very well end up in the Open Division of the state playoffs.

That may not be such a good thing considering the Gauchos haven't yet even won a D3 state crown. Nevertheless, its performance against one of Northern California's best will draw some attention.

The broke open a dead even game with a 25-14 spurt in the third and held off several SHC runs. Tyrell Alcorn, a strong 6-foot junior guard, led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, sixth-man Anthony Sullen provided more instant offense with 17 points and while 6-6 post Allen (Tre) James added 14 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-11 from the floor.

El Cerrito coach Michael Booker said before the game the Gauchos might have an advantage down low and indeed a 42-27 edge on the boards, including 14 offensive rebounds proved decisive.
Sayeed Pridgett added 12 points and Jovontae Carleton nine rebouneds for El Cerrito.

Deondre Otis was superb at point guard for SHC (11-4) and had 20 points, four assists and four rebounds. David Parsons added 14 points. Both teams committed 19 turnovers.

Chris Stonebraker's video of El Cerrito's win over Sacred Heart Cathedral:  



Youth is served: A pair of sophomores and a fast start, carried Saint Mary's (Albany) (15-4) to a 54-49 win over Castro Valley (11-5). Sophomores Aren Ulmer (16 points) and Kevin Warren (15) led the scoring onslaught for the Panthers, who led 12-5 at the end of the first quarter and never trailed.

Castro Valley got 16 points by high-scoring 6-foot guard Jalen McFerren and nine by high-flying guard Nate Moore.

Chris Stonebraker video of St. Mary's win over Castro Valley: 



Young Sacramento fights back: For three quarters, Sacramento's young bunch couldn't stop the three-point barrage of Salesian's Bernard Ward (7 3s, 27 points) or make many fastbreak hoops. But the Dragons (14-3) just kept pushing and eventually wore down the Pride in a 68-61 win in the final game of the night.
 
Tre Finch had 24 points, Stephan Matthews Jr. 12 and Solomon Young 10 as Sacramento went on a 25-9 run in the fourth quarter to upend Salesian (10-8). 

Sacramento forced 31 turnovers and got six steals from Christian Terrell, who had seven points. Ward made five 3-pointers in the first quarter leading Salesian to a 22-16 lead. Nakot Shepard-Creer made 5 of 6 shots and finished with 11 points for the Pride.

Despite its youth — Sacramento has two freshman and nine sophomores and just one senior on its roster — coach Derek Swafford said the Dragons are relentless.

"We just keep fighting and that's what we did tonight," he said. "We made a lot of mistakes, but I'm proud of their perseverance. Our motto all season is 'we belong on this stage.' We don't give in."

Chris Stonebraker's video of Sacramento's win over Salesian: